Web Survey Bibliography
Title The effect of personalization on response rates and data quality in web surveys
Author Heerwegh, D., Vanhove, T., Matthijs, K., Loosveldt, G.
Source International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8, 2, pp. 85-100
Year 2005
Database EBSCOhost
Access date 29.07.2005
Abstract
Personalizing correspondence has often shown to significantly increase survey
response rates in mail surveys. This study experimentally tests whether personalization of email invitations acts correspondingly to websurvey response rates. Also, it is investigated whether personalization influences data quality. The results of the study, using a large student sample, show that personalization significantly increases the websurvey response rate by 8.6 percentage points. The data quality does not appear to be affected in any major way by personalizing the email invitations. However, the analyses do show that respondents of the personalization condition tend to respond with more social desirability bias to sensitive questions. Therefore, it is concluded that personalization has positive effects on the survey response rate, but one should carefully consider whether or not to personalize when a survey on sensitive topics is conducted.Access/Direct link
Database (abstract)
Year of publication2005
Bibliographic typeJournal article
Web survey bibliography - International Journal of Social Research Methodology (13)
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- The effect of personalization on response rates and data quality in web surveys; 2005; Heerwegh, D., Vanhove, T., Matthijs, K., Loosveldt, G.
- Computer software and qualitative analysis: trends, issues and resources; 2000; Lee, R. M., Esterhuizen, L.
- 'Once would be enough': some reflections on the issue of safety for lone researchers ; 1999; Kenyon, E., Hawker, S.